Climate Change, Health and Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Trends and Implications to the Pacific Region.

Climate change is known to affect Pacific Island nations in a variety of ways. One of them is by increasing the vulnerability of human health induced by various climate change impacts, which pose an additional burden to the already distressed health systems in the region. This paper explores the associations between climate change and human health on the one hand, and outlines some of the health care challenges posed by a changing climate on the other. In particular, it describes the links between climate variations and the emergence of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, such as the mosquito-borne diseases dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. The paper also presents a summary of the key findings of the research initiatives Climate Change and Prevalence Study of ZIKA Virus Diseases in Fiji and the findings from the World Mosquito Program as two examples of public health action in the Pacific region

Exploring Trends and Differences in Health Behaviours of Health Sciences University Students from Germany and England: Findings from the "SuSy" Project.

OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to explore the health behaviours of health sciences students over time and across different settings. METHODS: A health behaviour surveillance system has been implemented in Hamburg and Manchester among under- and postgraduate health sciences students. Trends among the Hamburg sample were described. In a cross-sectional assessment, health behaviours across both universities were examined using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2018, increasing trends in physical activity and cannabis and alcohol consumption were observed in Hamburg (n = 1,366). While fruit and vegetable intake was constantly low, tobacco smoking decreased. No clear trend was observed for stress perception. The comparison (n = 474) revealed that Manchester students had higher odds of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption; and lower odds of being physically active, and consuming cannabis. No difference in stress perception was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Varying trends and potential areas of intervention were identified for health behaviours in Hamburg. The comparison with Manchester students revealed differences in behaviours, which could be further explored to help inform health promotion strategies in both settings

Exploring the influence of deforestation on dengue fever incidence in the Brazilian Amazonas state.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is the most prevalent arboviral disease in the Brazilian Amazon and places a major health, social and economic burden on the region. Its association with deforestation is largely unknown, yet the clearing of tropical rainforests has been linked to the emergence of several infectious diseases, including yellow fever and malaria. This study aimed to explore potential drivers of dengue emergence in the Brazilian Amazon with a focus on deforestation. METHODS: An ecological study design using municipality-level secondary data from the Amazonas state between 2007 and 2017 (reported rural dengue cases, incremental deforestation, socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare and climate factors) was employed. Data were transformed according to the year with the most considerable deforestation. Associations were explored using bivariate analysis and a multivariate generalised linear model. RESULTS: During the study period 2007-2017, both dengue incidence and deforestation increased. Bivariate analysis revealed increased incidences for some years after deforestation (e.g. mean difference between dengue incidence before and three years after deforestation was 55.47 cases per 100,000, p = 0.002), however, there was no association between the extent of deforestation and dengue incidence. Using a negative binomial regression model adjusted for socioeconomic, climate and healthcare factors, deforestation was not found to be related to dengue incidence. Access to healthcare was found to be the only significant predictor of dengue incidence. DISCUSSION: Previous research has shown that deforestation facilitates the emergence of vector-borne diseases. However, no significant dose-response relationships between dengue incidence and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazonas state were found in this study. The finding that access to healthcare was the only significant predictor of dengue incidence suggests that incidence may be more dependent on surveillance than transmission. Further research and public attention are needed to better understand environmental effects on human health and to preserve the world's largest rainforest

EDDi - Welcome Tutorial

EDDi - Epidemic Disease Detective Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Welcome Tutorial: This Welcome Tutorial is an interactive PowerPoint presentation and offers an insight into the basics of epidemiology as well as the gameplay of the EDDi Serious Game. It can be used in the context of both the EDDi Paper Manual and the EDDi Serious Game. Workflow The presentation integrates an interactive design. Start the presentation on your computer and follow the instructions by clicking on buttons and materials. Please note The presentation contains embedded links to video-based learning materials on epidemiology. Clicking on the element will redirect you to the third-party provider (YouTube). Extra: EDDi Artwork Table Top Exercise Artwork by Annabell Koenen-Rindfrey, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The artwork was developed using Affinity Designer 1.9.9 (iPad version). If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi - Welcome Tutorial

EDDi - Epidemic Disease Detective Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Welcome Tutorial: This Welcome Tutorial is an interactive PowerPoint presentation and offers an insight into the basics of epidemiology as well as the gameplay of the EDDi Serious Game. It can be used in the context of both the EDDi Paper Manual and the EDDi Serious Game. Workflow The presentation integrates an interactive design. Start the presentation on your computer and follow the instructions by clicking on buttons and materials. Please note The presentation contains embedded links to video-based learning materials on epidemiology. Clicking on the element will redirect you to the third-party provider (YouTube). Extra: EDDi Artwork Table Top Exercise Artwork by Annabell Koenen-Rindfrey, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The artwork was developed using Affinity Designer 1.9.9 (iPad version). If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi Paper Manual - Introduction

EDDi Print Manual - An Epidemic of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Hamburg Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Preparation of the Table Top Exercise Resources 1 EDDi Case Study: Description of the case scenario including tasks 2 EDDi Investigation Notebook: Reference materials relevant to the case study 3 EDDi Solution Guide: Guide for facilitators including solutions Approximate time (classroom teaching set-up) Approx. 2.5-3 hours (estimate) = approx. four course units á 45 minutes; the course units may be spread over two sessions á 1.5 hours Welcome Tutorial and Epidemiological Cheat Sheet As the Table Top Exercise requires a basic understanding of infectious disease epidemiology concepts and terminology, refreshing some background knowledge through the EDDi Welcome Tutorial is recommended, either individually or in small groups. There is a total of six educational videos to prepare for the different tasks of the exercise. The tutorial can be given to students as preparatory homework and could be further supplemented with additional questions. In addition, students may be advised to familiarize themselves with the Epidemiology Cheat Sheet and bring a copy. Materials needed Although extensive, we advise printing the EDDi Case Study and EDDi Investigation Notebook (one set per group). The printouts may be reused provided that all tasks are solved by the students on an extra sheet. A calculator is needed for some of the tasks. Teaching Facilitators To facilitate the exercise, we recommend having one facilitator (e.g., lecturer, tutor, experienced student) per working group who can assist with any problems. For each facilitator, we recommend providing one EDDi Solution Guide. If this is not possible, one solution guide can be given to each group to assist with any questions or problems. Workflow #1 Make sure you have completed all preparations and all printouts are available. #2 Before starting the exercise, explain the overall outline of the exercise (learning objectives, resources needed, time to complete the exercise) and assign the course to working groups (3-5 individuals and, if possible, one facilitator per group). Each group shall be provided with one EDDi Case Study and one EDDi Investigation Notebook printout. The Case Study provides the main storyline and tasks and points to important reference materials in the Investigation Notebook. The groups will then work on the exercise independently. #3 During the exercise, assistance can be sought through the facilitators or the Solution Guide. Make sure to keep an eye on the time! #4 The exercise should be closed with a final discussion and exchange of findings and experiences (approx. 15-20 minutes). To learn more about the real outbreak event, further reading materials can be found in the Investigation Notebook and shared with the class. Extra: EDDi Artwork Table Top Exercise Artwork by Annabell Koenen-Rindfrey, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The artwork was developed using Affinity Designer 1.9.9 (iPad version). Epidemiological trends by Juliane Boenecke, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Graphs were developed using software R Studio (Version 1.0.136), packages rgdal, sp, ggplot2, ggsave, readr and base. If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi Serious Game - Introduction

EDDi Serious Game - An Epidemic of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Hamburg Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Preparation of the Serious Game for Application in Teaching and Capacity Strengthening Resources 1 EDDi Serious Game - for Windows /OR/ Web Player - ***COMING SOON*** 2 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet: Evaluation sheet for discussing the game performance in class 3 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet (Facilitator's Version): Guide for facilitators including solutions Approximate time (classroom teaching set-up) Serious Game approx. 2.5-3 hours (estimate) Completion of Outbreak Summary Report approx. 20 minutes (estimate) Joint Discussion for Follow-Up approx. 30 minutes (estimate) Welcome Tutorial and Epidemiological Cheat Sheet As the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) requires a basic understanding of infectious disease epidemiology concepts and terminology, refreshing some background knowledge through the EDDi Welcome Tutorial is recommended, either individually or in small groups. There is a total of six educational videos to prepare for the different tasks of the exercise. The tutorial can be given to students as preparatory homework and could be further supplemented with additional questions. In addition, students may be advised to familiarize themselves with the Epidemiology Cheat Sheet and bring a copy. Materials needed Ensure that students are able to access the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) and that devices fulfill the game's system requirements (see System Requirements below). In preparation for the final follow-up discussion, each student should have a printout of the EDDi Reporting Sheet. A calculator is needed for some of the tasks. In addition, headphones can be recommended to students, though the sound in the game is not essential for completing the assignment. System Requirements The Serious Game is available for Windows (.exe, all files from the zip folder are required for the game to run!) and via web browser (Unity WebGL Player). It is optimized for widescreen (16:9) and standard resolution 1920x1080 pixels. https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html Operating System | Windows 7 SP1+, 8, 10, 64-bit versions only GPU | Graphic card supporting DX10 (Shader-Modell 4.0) RAM | Minimum 4 GB storage Workflow #1 Make sure you have completed all preparations and all printouts are available. #2 Before starting the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) exercise, explain the overall outline of the exercise (learning objectives, resources needed, estimated time to complete the game) and the game's system requirements to the students. The Serious Game can either be used in class or given to students as a take-home assignment. In either case, ensure that students have access to the game. Since it is a Single Player Game, students may tackle the outbreak alone or in a small group together with their peers. The game itself will guide them through its storyline, tasks, and reference materials. But beware: There’s currently no option to save any game progress. If the player quits EDDi, it crashes, or their device accidentally loses power, they will be reset to the start of the mission. If students play EDDi in a small group, remind them to take enough time to carefully discuss and evaluate their findings and clues in the group. #3 Throughout the game, students will encounter frequent pointers on how they're performing. If the Serious Game is used in face-to-face classroom teaching, you may also assist with questions. Make sure to keep an eye on the time! #4 At the end of the Serious Game exercise (at home or in the classroom), students are to fill out an EDDi Reporting Sheet. The report should serve as the basis for a final joint discussion in the cohort. The Serious Game exercise should therefore close with a face-to-face outbreak wrap-up and exchange of findings and experiences, moderated by the facilitator via the EDDi Reporting Sheet-Facilitator's Version (approx. 30 minutes). Students can also evaluate their final game statistics using the Facilitator's Version. To learn more about the real outbreak event, further reading materials can be found in the Investigation Notebook and shared with the class. Extra: Being a third-party-funded project, EDDi was completed in September 2023. There is no continuing technical support. If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi Paper Manual - Introduction

EDDi Print Manual - An Epidemic of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Hamburg Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Preparation of the Table Top Exercise Resources 1 EDDi Case Study: Description of the case scenario including tasks 2 EDDi Investigation Notebook: Reference materials relevant to the case study 3 EDDi Solution Guide: Guide for facilitators including solutions Approximate time (classroom teaching set-up) Approx. 2.5-3 hours (estimate) = approx. four course units á 45 minutes; the course units may be spread over two sessions á 1.5 hours Welcome Tutorial and Epidemiological Cheat Sheet As the Table Top Exercise requires a basic understanding of infectious disease epidemiology concepts and terminology, refreshing some background knowledge through the EDDi Welcome Tutorial is recommended, either individually or in small groups. There is a total of six educational videos to prepare for the different tasks of the exercise. The tutorial can be given to students as preparatory homework and could be further supplemented with additional questions. In addition, students may be advised to familiarize themselves with the Epidemiology Cheat Sheet and bring a copy. Materials needed Although extensive, we advise printing the EDDi Case Study and EDDi Investigation Notebook (one set per group). The printouts may be reused provided that all tasks are solved by the students on an extra sheet. A calculator is needed for some of the tasks. Teaching Facilitators To facilitate the exercise, we recommend having one facilitator (e.g., lecturer, tutor, experienced student) per working group who can assist with any problems. For each facilitator, we recommend providing one EDDi Solution Guide. If this is not possible, one solution guide can be given to each group to assist with any questions or problems. Workflow #1 Make sure you have completed all preparations and all printouts are available. #2 Before starting the exercise, explain the overall outline of the exercise (learning objectives, resources needed, time to complete the exercise) and assign the course to working groups (3-5 individuals and, if possible, one facilitator per group). Each group shall be provided with one EDDi Case Study and one EDDi Investigation Notebook printout. The Case Study provides the main storyline and tasks and points to important reference materials in the Investigation Notebook. The groups will then work on the exercise independently. #3 During the exercise, assistance can be sought through the facilitators or the Solution Guide. Make sure to keep an eye on the time! #4 The exercise should be closed with a final discussion and exchange of findings and experiences (approx. 15-20 minutes). To learn more about the real outbreak event, further reading materials can be found in the Investigation Notebook and shared with the class. Extra: EDDi Artwork Table Top Exercise Artwork by Annabell Koenen-Rindfrey, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The artwork was developed using Affinity Designer 1.9.9 (iPad version). Epidemiological trends by Juliane Boenecke, licensed under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Graphs were developed using software R Studio (Version 1.0.136), packages rgdal, sp, ggplot2, ggsave, readr and base. If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi Serious Game - Introduction

EDDi Serious Game - An Epidemic of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Hamburg Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Preparation of the Serious Game for Application in Teaching and Capacity Strengthening Resources 1 EDDi Serious Game - for Windows /OR/ Web Player - ***COMING SOON*** 2 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet: Evaluation sheet for discussing the game performance in class 3 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet (Facilitator's Version): Guide for facilitators including solutions Approximate time (classroom teaching set-up) Serious Game approx. 2.5-3 hours (estimate) Completion of Outbreak Summary Report approx. 20 minutes (estimate) Joint Discussion for Follow-Up approx. 30 minutes (estimate) Welcome Tutorial and Epidemiological Cheat Sheet As the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) requires a basic understanding of infectious disease epidemiology concepts and terminology, refreshing some background knowledge through the EDDi Welcome Tutorial is recommended, either individually or in small groups. There is a total of six educational videos to prepare for the different tasks of the exercise. The tutorial can be given to students as preparatory homework and could be further supplemented with additional questions. In addition, students may be advised to familiarize themselves with the Epidemiology Cheat Sheet and bring a copy. Materials needed Ensure that students are able to access the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) and that devices fulfill the game's system requirements (see System Requirements below). In preparation for the final follow-up discussion, each student should have a printout of the EDDi Reporting Sheet. A calculator is needed for some of the tasks. In addition, headphones can be recommended to students, though the sound in the game is not essential for completing the assignment. System Requirements The Serious Game is available for Windows (.exe, all files from the zip folder are required for the game to run!) and via web browser (Unity WebGL Player). It is optimized for widescreen (16:9) and standard resolution 1920x1080 pixels. https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html Operating System | Windows 7 SP1+, 8, 10, 64-bit versions only GPU | Graphic card supporting DX10 (Shader-Modell 4.0) RAM | Minimum 4 GB storage Workflow #1 Make sure you have completed all preparations and all printouts are available. #2 Before starting the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) exercise, explain the overall outline of the exercise (learning objectives, resources needed, estimated time to complete the game) and the game's system requirements to the students. The Serious Game can either be used in class or given to students as a take-home assignment. In either case, ensure that students have access to the game. Since it is a Single Player Game, students may tackle the outbreak alone or in a small group together with their peers. The game itself will guide them through its storyline, tasks, and reference materials. But beware: There’s currently no option to save any game progress. If the player quits EDDi, it crashes, or their device accidentally loses power, they will be reset to the start of the mission. If students play EDDi in a small group, remind them to take enough time to carefully discuss and evaluate their findings and clues in the group. #3 Throughout the game, students will encounter frequent pointers on how they're performing. If the Serious Game is used in face-to-face classroom teaching, you may also assist with questions. Make sure to keep an eye on the time! #4 At the end of the Serious Game exercise (at home or in the classroom), students are to fill out an EDDi Reporting Sheet. The report should serve as the basis for a final joint discussion in the cohort. The Serious Game exercise should therefore close with a face-to-face outbreak wrap-up and exchange of findings and experiences, moderated by the facilitator via the EDDi Reporting Sheet-Facilitator's Version (approx. 30 minutes). Students can also evaluate their final game statistics themselves using the Facilitator's Version. To learn more about the real outbreak event, further reading materials can be found in the EDDi Read.Me and shared with the class. Extra: Being a third-party-funded project, EDDi was completed in September 2023. There is no continuing technical support. If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For editable materials and further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i

EDDi - Epidemiology Cheat Sheet (Supplementary Material)

EDDi Serious Game - An Epidemic of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Hamburg Summary: Building on a problem-based self-study approach, EDDi participants will be introduced to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology as well as concepts related to the investigation of disease outbreaks, with particular focus on: Describing infectious disease events and evaluating local outbreak scenarios Learning about basic methods of epidemiological outbreak investigation, study designs, and tools of epidemiology (e.g., epidemiological curves, outbreak maps, technical terms) Interpreting and recognizing associations between outbreak events and relevant influencing factors by applying basic techniques of infectious disease epidemiology (especially descriptive methods) Making informed decisions in outbreak investigation based on epidemiological evidence Extra: Getting to know the structure of the German disease surveillance and reporting system as well as background information on the Hanseatic city of Hamburg Preparation of the Serious Game for Application in Teaching and Capacity Strengthening Resources 1 EDDi Serious Game - for Windows /OR/ Web Player - ***COMING SOON*** 2 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet: Evaluation sheet for discussing the game performance in class 3 EDDi Outbreak Reporting Sheet (Facilitator's Version): Guide for facilitators including solutions Approximate time (classroom teaching set-up) Serious Game approx. 2.5-3 hours (estimate) Completion of Outbreak Summary Report approx. 20 minutes (estimate) Joint Discussion for Follow-Up approx. 30 minutes (estimate) Welcome Tutorial and Epidemiological Cheat Sheet As the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) requires a basic understanding of infectious disease epidemiology concepts and terminology, refreshing some background knowledge through the EDDi Welcome Tutorial is recommended, either individually or in small groups. There is a total of six educational videos to prepare for the different tasks of the exercise. The tutorial can be given to students as preparatory homework and could be further supplemented with additional questions. In addition, students may be advised to familiarize themselves with the Epidemiology Cheat Sheet and bring a copy. Materials needed Ensure that students are able to access the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) and that devices fulfill the game's system requirements (see System Requirements below). In preparation for the final follow-up discussion, each student should have a printout of the EDDi Reporting Sheet. A calculator is needed for some of the tasks. In addition, headphones can be recommended to students, though the sound in the game is not essential for completing the assignment. System Requirements The Serious Game is available for Windows (.exe, all files from the zip folder are required for the game to run!) and via web browser (Unity WebGL Player). It is optimized for widescreen (16:9) and standard resolution 1920x1080 pixels. https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html Operating System | Windows 7 SP1+, 8, 10, 64-bit versions only GPU | Graphic card supporting DX10 (Shader-Modell 4.0) RAM | Minimum 4 GB storage Workflow #1 Make sure you have completed all preparations and all printouts are available. #2 Before starting the EDDi Serious Game (Windows / Web Player) exercise, explain the overall outline of the exercise (learning objectives, resources needed, estimated time to complete the game) and the game's system requirements to the students. The Serious Game can either be used in class or given to students as a take-home assignment. In either case, ensure that students have access to the game. Since it is a Single Player Game, students may tackle the outbreak alone or in a small group together with their peers. The game itself will guide them through its storyline, tasks, and reference materials. But beware: There’s currently no option to save any game progress. If the player quits EDDi, it crashes, or their device accidentally loses power, they will be reset to the start of the mission. If students play EDDi in a small group, remind them to take enough time to carefully discuss and evaluate their findings and clues in the group. #3 Throughout the game, students will encounter frequent pointers on how they're performing. If the Serious Game is used in face-to-face classroom teaching, you may also assist with questions. Make sure to keep an eye on the time! #4 At the end of the Serious Game exercise (at home or in the classroom), students are to fill out an EDDi Reporting Sheet. The report should serve as the basis for a final joint discussion in the cohort. The Serious Game exercise should therefore close with a face-to-face outbreak wrap-up and exchange of findings and experiences, moderated by the facilitator via the EDDi Reporting Sheet-Facilitator's Version (approx. 30 minutes). Students can also evaluate their final game statistics using the Facilitator's Version. To learn more about the real outbreak event, further reading materials can be found in the EDDi Read.Me and shared with the class. Extra: Being a third-party-funded project, EDDi was completed in September 2023. There is no continuing technical support. If you would like to revise, rewrite, or build a new narrative upon this case study, all materials are available under an open license.This resource is published under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The license's terms and conditions for further use and distribution apply. For further information on EDDi visit https://linktr.ee/e.d.d.i